Compressing machine



Jan. 14, 1936.

A. s, KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1

6 Sheets-Sheet l Jza eii a Jan. 14, 193.6. A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed J 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I H H Jan. 14, 1936.

A. S. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Max Jan. 14, 1936.

A. s. Kux

COMPRESSING MACHINE s Sheeizs-Sheet 5 Filed J=n. 27, 1933 .i (ii H Jan. 14, 1936. s KUX 2,027,915

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2 7, 1935 e Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This inventionrelates to improvements in compressing machines for compressing pliable or semiplastic material into a compact unit, and is more particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use, for forming tablets, compacts, lozenges, and the like, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide in a machine of this character a mold wheel having cavities therein open at both ends, and in which cavities the material is compressed by plungers entering the cavities from each end, one of the plungers receding after compressing the material, and the other plunger following the receding material and acting as an ejector for the finished product from the mold cavity.

A further object is to provide improved means for cutting and supplying the material to the mold cavities.

A further object is to provide improved means forejecting and receiving the finished product from between the plungers and for handling the same.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character in which all of the parts of the compressing mechanism and operating parts therefor are freely accessible and within easy reach of the workmen. I

A further object is to provide an improved machine of this character which will be of a simple, durable and compact construction and effective and efilcient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the, featuresof novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure l is aside elevation of a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a right hand end elevation of Figure 1.

, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 2, on an enlarged scale and with parts omitted.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, with parts omitted, and as taken on line 4-4, Figure 2. v

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 5-5, Figure 1, with parts omitted.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, with parts omitted, and as taken on line 6-6, Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic horizontal sectional view through the mold wheel showing the plungers' and cams flattened out.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the turret carrying the plungers, on a smaller scale, and showing a means for lubricating the plungers for maintaining them clean of the material being operated upon.

Figure 9 is a view partly in elevation, partly in section, and partly broken away, showing a man ner of supplying a lubricant to the plunger.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral l0 designates a supporting base provided with uprights ll projecting thereabove and carried by the ends of the uprights are bearings l2, in which a main central shaft 13 is Journaled. The uprights II are spaced laterally from each other for any desired or suitable distance, and secured to the shaft for rotation therewith is a combined plunger carrying and mold wheel which is mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis and comprises spaced flanges i4--l6 each of any desired thickness. In the flange M are arranged horizontal pockets or cavities and these cavities extend entirely through the flange and are of any desired diameter, the longitudinal axes of the cavities l5 being parallel with the axis of the shaft [3. In the flange i6 which is spaced from the flange I 4 there is provided a plurality of openings I! therethrough arranged in alinement with the respective cavities or pockets l5 in the flange l4. The flange or disc i6 is spaced for any desired distance from the flange or disc i4, and carried by the disc iii are plungers i8 which fit within the openings l1 and are of a length considerably greater than the thickness of the disc [6.

Similar plungers l9 are supported by the flange or disc I4 and project into the cavities or pockets I5 and these plungers iii are also of a length considerably greater than the thickness of the flange or disc i4.

If desired, the ends of the plungers i8 and i9 may be reduced as at 20, for a purpose to be set forth.

The flange or disc l4 and the plunger carrying flange or disc iii are adapted to be rotated simultaneously and in fixed position with respect to each other by the rotation of the shaft i3, and as these parts are rotated the plungers i8 and is are reciprocated in directions lengthwise of the axis of the shaft l3, toward and away from each other, so as to receive between the ends of the plungers the product'which is to be compressed.

The product is then shifted laterally to a position within the respective cavities or pockets |5 in the flange or disc l4, compressed and then removed from the mold cavity.

This is accomplished in the following manner. The product to be compressed is moved to a position between the ends of the co-operating plungers l8 and I9 and held in such position until the plungers l8 and I9 are moved towards each other and into contact with the lateral edges of the product (see particularly Figure 5), after which and as the flange or disc l4 and disc I6 are rotated, the product gripped by the opposing plungers will be advanced and during such advancing movement the plungers will be moved in a direction to cause the product to be positioned within one of the mold cavities l5. A further advanc-.

ing movement of the flange or disc M will cause the plungers l8 and I9 to be forced towards each other, exerting the desired pressure upon the product in the mold cavity, to change its transverse section and compress the same within the mold cavity, the reduced ends of the plungers I8 and I8 serving to form cavities in the faces of the product. After the desired pressure has been exerted upon the product and during a further rotation of the mold wheel, the plunger |8 will recede (see particularly Figure 7), and the plunger l8 will follow the receding plunger, causing the compressed article or final product 2| to be removed from the mold cavity l5 (see also Figure 7) and in a position intermediate the flange or disc l4 and the plunger carrying flange or disc l6. Upon a further advancing movement of the product as it is being held between the plungers l8 and I9 and between the flange or disc l4 and disc l6, the plungers will be separated and the finished product will be delivered upon a suitable support to be conveyed away from the machine.

The reciprocating movement of the plungers l8 and I8 is effected through the medium of cams 22 23, portions of which engage in recesses 24- 25 in the respective plungers l8 and is, so that the cams will operate both to advance and retract the plungers.

The cams are so shaped that they will produce the desired movement of the plungers and at the desired points in the cycle of operation of the mechanism, and at the point in the advancement of the mold wheel at which it is desired to cause the finial compression to be exerted, there is provided a roller 25 mounted to rotate on an upright axis 21 which is fixed and the roller 26 is mounted to freely revolve about its axis. The end of the advancing plunger l8 (see particularly Figures 6 and 7) contacts with the periphery of the roller 26 as the mold wheel I 4 and plunger carrying disc |8 are advanced and the plunger l8 will be held against a receding movement.

Opposite the roller 26 is arranged another roller 28 which rotates upon an upright axis 29, and this roller 28 is mounted in a slidable bearing 30, the bearing 3|! being adapted to be longitudinally shifted within another bearing 3|. Connected with the bearing 30 is a rod 32 which passes loosely through a cap 33 adjustably connected with the bearing 3|. Nuts or collars 34 are provided on the rod 32 beyond the cap 33. Arranged within the bearing 3| and encompassing the rod 32 is a coiled spring 35, one end of which contacts with the cap 33 and the other end contacts with the bottom of the recess or cavity 36 in the sliding bearing 30. The normal tendency of the spring is to force the roller 28 toward the roller 26 and co-operates with the roller 26 to produce the desired compression upon the article 2| in the mold cavity or pocket l5. By adjusting the cap 33 the tension of the spring 35 may be varied.

The product to be compressed is preferably supplied to the machine in the form of a bar or ribbon 31, and is formed of pliable or semi-plastic material and as it enters the machine it passes over a roller 38 having spaced circumferential flanges 39 so as to form a seat in which the material is partially shaped. This roller 38 rotates about a fixed axis 40 and has connected with it a gear 4|, by means of which the roller may be rotated in the manner to be set forth.

Co-operating with the roller 38 and arranged thereabove is another roller 42 which is mounted upon a shaft 43 j ournaled in a support 44 pivotally mounted by one end at 45 to a fixed support 46 and the other end of the support 44 is connected an upright 41 which passes loosely through both the support and the top 48 of a housing within which the roller 42 is arranged, to project therebeyond, and the upright is provided with a circumferential recess 49 adapted to receive 'a pin 50 connected with an eccentric 5| to which a handle 52 is secured, a nut 41 being provided on the end of the upright 41. A spring 53 encompasses the upright 41 within the housing, one end thereof resting upon the suport 44 and the other end against the top 48 of the housing. The shaft 43 passes through a slot 54 in the housing walls so that when the eccentric 5| is rotated by means of the'handle 52 the support 44 may be swung about its pivot 45 to raise and lower the roller 42 with respect to the roller 38 within the limits permitted by the meshing of the gears 16 and 4|, and to secure the desired stress of the roller 42 upon the material passing between the rollers 38 and 42. Theslots 54 in the sides of the housing are provided so as not to interfere with the swinging movement of the support 44.

Arranged in proximity to the rollers 42-38 are cutting and supporting rollers 5556 which are provided with seats or pockets 51--58, and these discs 55 and 58 are positively driven in a manner to be set forth and co-operate with each other (see particularly Figure 4) to sever the material 31 into predetermined sizes as indicated at 2|. The discs 55 and. 56-are arranged in such a manner with respect to the plungers I8 and I9 that when the material 31 is cut into the sizes 2| the plungers will, just before the material leaves the seats 58, be moved into contact with the edges of the material and thereby receive the material from the disc 56 and support the same while the out portion is being shifted laterally to be positioned withinthe mold seats or pockets l5.

The rollers 42 and 38 are of a size that as the material passes therebetween its cross sectional shape will be altered and the rollers are prefer ably of a configuration to cause the material to be substantially flattened out to the desired thickness. After the portion has beencut from the supply 31 and as the plungers l8 and I9 are brought together they will, by reason of their contact with the edges of the cut portion of the material compress the same and cause the material to fill the seat or cavity in the mold wheel, the cross sectional configuration of the cut portion of the material being changed by degrees as indicated in Figure 4, during the advancement of the flange or disc l4.

After the product has been compressed within the cavity l5 and the plungers l8 and I! moved to the position shown at the right of Figure 7, that is to eject the finished product from the mold cavity,

theproduct will then be positioned by the plungers directly above a rotatable support 59 which is provided with open seats 60 and preferably comprises two discs laterally spaced for the desired distance from each other. This support 59 is mounted upon a standard BI and is arranged adjacent a-delivery-chute 62. Secured to a suitable support, preferably to the bottom of the delivery chute 62 is a flnger.63 preferably in the fo'rm'of a wire or. the like, which extends into the space between the discs constituting the support 59 and adjacent the bottom of the seats 60. This finger 63, operates as an ejector to assist in discharging the product from the-seats 60 as the support 59 is positively rotated in a manner to be presently set forth.

Thus it will be seen, from Figure 4 of the drawings, that the material entering between the rollers 42 and 38 will be slightly compressed so as to change the crosssectional contour thereof. These rollers 423B also operate as a means for advancing the material into the machine. The material is then contacted by the cutting and supporting rollers Eli-56 so as to sever the same in predetermined sizes. Then as the mold wheel advances, the plungers i8 and H! are moved towards each other by their respective operating cams to grip the product by the edges and as it is further advanced to first shift the product laterally into the cavity in the mold wheel and by a. further operation of the plunger upon the product in the cavity, the product will be compressed. As the mold wheel further advances the plungers l8 and I9 are operated to first remove the finished product form the mold cavity and to position it between the mold wheel and the plunger carrying disc where it will be held by the plungers until the product advances in close proximity to the receiving support 59. Just at that time the plungers l8 and iii are separated and the product is delivered into one of the pockets 60 and as the support 59 is positively driven, the products will fail therefrom by gravity into the chute 62, or the ejector finger 63 will operate to assist in dislodging the finished product.

Motion is imparted to the various parts preferably from a shaft 64 rotated from any suitable source of power. To this shaft 64 is secured a worm 65 which meshes with a worm gear 66 arranged in a housing 61. The worm gear 66 is secured to the shaft l3 for rotation therewith. Secured also to the shaft i3 for rotation therewith isa gear 68 which meshes with an idle gear 69 that v in turn meshes with a gear 19 secured to the shaft ll of the suport 59. The gear 68 also meshes with an idle gear I2, and this idle gear in turn meshes with a gear 13 secured to the shaft 14 of the supporting and cutting roller 56. The idle gear 12 also meshes with a gear I5 secured to the shaft 40 of the roller 38 and the gear 15 on the side of the roller 38 opposite to the side on which the gear is secured. The gear 4| meshes with a gear 16 which is secured to the shaft 43 of the roller 42, and

secured to the shaft 43 on the opposite side of machine, a portion of the casing is'cut away as at 8!, for that purpose.

machine that sometimes the material being operated upon will adhere to the plungers, and as the i plungers are retracted the material will be carried into the cavities i5-l'| oftentimes forming a complete coating around the plungers. This is objectionable becauseit interferes with the operation of the machine and-of the free movement of the plungers.

'In order to overcome this objection and difflculty means have been provided whereby a lubricating material may be supplied to the plungers within the cavities or bearings through which they reciprocate, so as to prevent the material from adhering to the plungers and thereby maintain a free and easy operation of the plungers.

To that end the flange or disc I4 as well as the flange or disc I6 which constitute the turret, are respectively provided with an open circumferential groove or recess 8283 located substantially midway of the lateral faces thereof and extending completely therearound. These grooves or recesses B2--83 are of a depth to intersect the cavities or bearings I5i|.

A lubricant receptacle 84 is mounted upon a suitable support 85, which latter may be supported in any suitable manner such as by means of the shaft 80. This support 95 may be located in any convenient position and extending from the lubricant receptacle 84 is a tube 86, the forward end thereof extending into the groove 82, or 83 of the respective flange or disc l4 and flange or disc l6. Obviously, one of these lubricant feeding devices may be provided for each of the grooves 82-43.

A simple and efficient means for supplying the lubricant consists of what is known as an ordinary sight feed oiler which may be adjusted in the ordinary manner so as to supply a predetermined quantity of lubricant to the grooves or as rapidly as may be desired.

It will be manifest that as the turret rotates the lubricant being discharged through the tubes 86 will be delivered into the cavities or bearings Iii-i1 through which the plungers operate, and this will maintain them lubricated and prevent the formation of a crust of the material upon the plungers.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of theclaims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A compressing machine embodying a plunger carrying member rotatable on a horizontal axis and comprising laterally spaced flanges of considerable thickness provided with horizontal openings therethrough and respectively registering, plungers respectively projecting into said openings and supported by the respective flanges, the plunger carrying openings in one of said flanges also constituting compression chambers for the material, means for moving the plungers toward each other and into the compression chambers, the said means so constructed and arranged as-to cause the plungers to remove the compressed product from the chambers while the product is held between said plungers, feeding and partially shaping cooperating rotatable membersfior the material, rotatable cutting members between which the material passes, said cutting members being separate from the plunger carrying member and rotatable upon axes separate and having cavities parallel with and encom-' passing said axis, opposed plungers for each of said cavities, means for reciprocating the plungers to compress the material in the cavities and for removing the same therefrom, a pair 01 cooperating rotatable cutters circumierentially ser- 8,0Il7,9 I. 5 l

rated and rotatable about parallel axes remote mm but parallel with the axis oi said turret, said cutters being disposed entirely to one side of the axis 0! the turret and being of diameters considerably less than the diameter of the turret, the active portions of the cutters being disposed between oo-operatlng plungers and adjacent some of the cavities in the turret, co-operating shaping rolls adjacent and rotatable about axes parallel with the axes oi the cutters, a pivotally mounted 10 support carrying one 0! said shaping rolls, re-

silient means operating upon the support and tending to move the same in one direction, and means for moving said ,support about its pivot and for controlling at will the stress of said re- 18 siiient means whereby the degree of pressure between sald shaping rolls may be varied.

ALBERT s. xux. 

